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J. CLOUGH, W. H STILWELL AND A. R. FUGINA.

RAIL CONTACT CIRCUIT CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJS I917.

Lafvnfvd Aug. 5, 191 O.

2 SHEETS- SHEET 1.

J. E. CLOUGH, W. H. STILWELL AND A. R. FUG-IIXL A; RAIL com/m cmcunCONTROLLER. APPLICATION FILED AUG.I5, 1917. 1,312,101 Patented Aug.5,1919.

2SHEETS-SHEET 2 M a/ M E; w I Aw 3 7 7 M M a, 3 r 2 z m 4 y M W 5 M Q-I4FI II a! a w F Z y fi Z 3 W b? 1 6 Z L t/ 5 6 0 MP r F r w W 6AI M mW 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES E. CLOUGH AND WILSON I-I. STILWELIJ', OF PARIS, AND LOUISVILLE,KENTUCKY.

RAIL-CONTACT CIRCUIT-CONTROLLER.

. Specifleation of Letters Patent.

Patented Au .f5, 1919.

it Application filed August 15, 1917. SerialNo. 186,334. i

To all whom may concern: Be it known that we, JAMES EDGAR CLoUcH,

WILSON HEATH STILWELL, and ARTHUR H.

FUGINA, citizens-of the United States, residing, respectively, the firsttwo at Paris, county of Bourbon, the latter in Louisville, county ofJefferson, all in the State of Kentucky, have invented a new and usefulRail- Contact Circuit-Controller, of which the following is aspecification. h I

This invention relates to means for controlling electric circuits,adapted to be actuated upon the depressionof a rail by a passing train,which when primarily actuated upon the passlng of a train 111 eitherdirection, will not be changed by subsequent depressions of the rail,until the train has passed beyond the zone of thedevice, and whichconsequently may be used on single track railways.

The invention consists, essentially, in the combination with a railwaytrack, having points disposed a spaced distance apart, in a railthereof, and arranged to be depressed by each wheel passing along therail, of circuit closing means positioned intermediate the depressiblepoints, and having mechanically operatable connections therewith.

An object of the invention is to provide circuit controlling means of'the character described, having a plurality of connections with arailway .rail, and adapted to be actuated from a normal position, by animpulse received upon a depression of the. rail at either of saidconnections, subsequent impulses due to a depression at either of. saidconnections prior to a return to normal,

tending to maintain the position assumed in obedience to the primaryimpulse.

Afurtherobject is to provide a device as characterized, which shall beeconomical in construction, easily installed, eflieient in operation anddurable in service.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists ofthe novel construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in theaccon'ipanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,wherein is set forth an embodiment of the invention, but it is to beunderstood that such changes and modifications may be resorted to ascome within the scope of the appended claims. d r

In the drawings whereip sim lar reference tie plate. track a weatherproofcontroller box -19- characters designate likeparts in the severalviews, Figure of a railway track showing an embodiment of the inventioninstalled in connection therewith, the cover ofthecontroller box beingremoved: Fig. 2, a side elevation of the. same with the box cover inplace: Fig.

3, a side elevation (on an enlarged scale) of Fig. 4, a dia- Referringnow to, the drawing wherein is shown a portion 'of a railway track,compr sing 12- by suitable means. Tie the ties, and sprlngs -14- arepositioned between the tie plates and the rail, at right angles to therail. The spring plates have a central arched portion --15- which yieldsunder the weight of passing rolling stock, permitting a depression ofthe rail of approximately of an inch. The spring plate is retained inplace by suitable means such as bolts -16- which pass through slots--17-, extended in from the ends thereof, which permit extension oftheplate as it flattens out, and throughfiopenings in the At a suitablepoint along the is positioned, preferably between "two cross ties,,whereit is supported byl suitable means such as bars 207. insucha'manner that the top of the box will be below the level of the,rail.--The box is provided withia removable cover .21 A suitablepacking is placed in a space -22- between the cover and theupper edge ofthe walls of thebox to prevent the entrance of moistura Pairs ofoppositely disposed ears 23,,' -24 are secured to the sides of the box.A looking arm 25 is pivotally connected tothe ear-23, and an eye bolt-26is pivotally connected toth'e earns. The cover may be secured in placefolding the locking arm there-across. and engaging it with the eyelael-t. A hot 2-7- scene ye belt, is then THUR n. FUGINA, or

1, is a plan View, ofa portion a rail 1 1 -*of conventional design whichis securedupon cross ties, or sleepers plates -13 are secured to certainof screwed down against the arm, forcing the cover down upon the box. Ahasp 2S-, which is hinged to the nut, is then turned down and engagedwith a staple 29 which extends from the top of the arm, and a lockingelement (not shown) such as.a

adlock inserted through the staple. A Block 30 is erected on the bottomof the box interiorly thereof, on a medial longitudinal line. On oneside of the block 30, at the forward end thereof and extending forwardtherefrom a mounting strip 3l of insulating material such as fiber, isse'ured by suitable means such as bolts 82. On this strip are mounted aplurality of binding posts 33, 35, .37 which are in,

electrical connection respectively with a heel contact spring 34, astirrup contact spring 36, and a movable contact finger 38 which aremounted on the opposltesidc ofthestrip and extend upward paral ,lelwithand at varying distances therefrom. ,Electrical conduetors lead from therespective binding posts through an outlet 40 .to distantly positionedelectrically. operated inechanism.., A block -4l pivotally v mountedupon the block 30' near thefor- Ward end thereof carries a selector bar42-' which is arranged transversely of the box. Centrally of this bar,on the forward side thereof, an arm ,43 extends.

I This arm is insulatedfrom the .bar by a contact with one or the otherof the contact the ties.

jfiber' strip and is provided on its forward end with a slot -(i5adapted to receive the contact finger 38. whereby movement ofv theselector bar will be communicated to the contact finger moving it intosprings. A pair of oppositely disposed springs 46 which are securedtothe sides of a projection 47- at the rear of the block 130,. extendforward and bear against the s'ides of the pivotbloek 41L fThese springsoppose any movement of the. pivot block andserve to return it, andassociated parts to normal position when deflected therefrom. At spaceddistances from' the.

controller box, on'each side thereof, brackets 50 are positioned,andare-secured to the tie plates .on whichv thelspring plates are locatedin proximity 'tolthe rails; These brackets comprise parallel spacedwalls 5I, 52'joine d by an arched portion,53, and a base 54'. extendedfrom the wall 52, by means of whicli they are attached to A pipe rail,from the boxto the" bracket; one end of the pipe bcing'reccived in aprojection or boss 56 onthebox and the other'cnd in the wall 51 of thebracket. 'Afshaft -.57

is run through the pipe and projects into Q L the box. The outer end ofthcshaft, is

journaled in the wall 52of the bracket and the inner end in a boss, 58-on the inner side of the wa ll of the box, A dog -59 1 position.

55- extends alongthe is secured on the shaft between the walls of thebracket, by suitable means such as a taper pin and a toe 60 thereofbears upon the flange of the rail. A lever 61 is secured on the innerend of each of the shafts by suitable means, as herewith illustratedsaid means comprising a looped per-- lever is raised it will engage theselector bar near the end thereof. If the selector bar is in its normalposition the tip will come into contact with the forward side thereofand draw the end engaged toward the rear of the box. If while the partsare in this position the lower lever is actuated the tip thereof willpass behind the advanced end of the bar and hold it in actuated A pin 66erected on the floor of the box extends upward through a perforation 67in the lever and serves as a guide therefor. A spring 68 disposed aboutthe pin and bearing respectively on the floor and against the levertends to force the latter upward. This movement is resisted by the dogs59 which bear upon the 9 rail. The arrangement is such that themovemcntof the lovers is controlled by the deflection of the rail whichin turn is actuated by the passage of the rolling stock. A rod 69.disposed transversely of the box, a spaced distance above the levers(31,, serves as a stop to limit their upward movement. The relativepositions of the dogs 59 and the levers 61 on the shafts is such thatwhenthe rail is in its normal, or elcvated position, the lovers are intheir lowest position.

As a train approaches the apparatus, say in the direction of the arrow,the weight thereof overcoming the tension of the spring plate depressesthe rail whereupon the dog atthat point being free to move, the spring68 will force the corresponding lever upward, the chisel pointed end ofthe lever tip will slideover the bevel edge of that end of the selectorbar moving it in the opposite direction. This movement of the selectorbar through the medium of the arm we 43,.causcsthe contact finger tocontact with a spring. as the heel contact 35. whereupon an impulse istransmitted which actuates a signal indicating the approach of a trainand thedirection from which it is coming. As the train passcsover theplate. on the other side of the selector box, it depresses the railatthat point and the corresponding selector lever is raised by itsspring 68, but, as that end of the selector bar has moved forward,thetip oi the lever passes behind the bar, thereby holding it in theactuated position until the train has passed. It will be observed thatupon the depression of a all plates connected with thecontroller box.When the rear-most wheel of a train passes over the depressible point inthe rail onthe near side of a selector-box the rail at that point willreturn to its normalposition and through the medium of the dog 59 andshaft 57, Will lower the associated lever 61, selector-bar 42,

disengaging it from the p p p which would then return to its normal poof the train passing over the depressiblepoint, on the far side of theselector-box, which controls it. When wheel passes over thedepressible-point on the far side of the selector-box, the lever 61actuated therefrom will be lowered from its engagement with theselector-bar, which will then be returned to its normal position bymeans of the springs 46, carrying with it the contact spring 38. Theparts are now in their normal position ready for actuation by a trainapproaching from either direction.

It is to be understood that while the oper ation of the device isexplained in connection with an open circuit, its useis contemplatedwith a closedcircuit, andclaims directed to an open circuit are to beread as applying with equal force to a closed circuit.

Having thus described our invention so that anyone skilled in theartpertaining thereto can make and use the same, we

claim 1. In an apparatus as characterized,

plurality of contactspringsfa contact finger adapted to be contactedwith selected ones of said springs, aplurality ofmeansadapted to actuatesaid finger, a railwayrail, a

plurality of depressible points along said rail and operativeconnectlonsfbetween said actuating means and said depressible points.

2. In coinbinationwith a rail, a plurality of cross files to which saidrail 15 attached, the rail being at onejpolnt movable relative toanadjacent tie, a plurality of contact springs, a flexible contactfinger, means for flexing said finger, and operative connections betweensaid flexing means and said movable point in therail.

3. Inconibination, a rail adapted to be depressed at a given point by apassing train, a plurality of contacts, a member adapted to closecertain of said contacts, means adapted to actuate said member, andopermembers,

the rearmost plurality said actuating means and said depressible arailadapted to be p contacts,a lmember adapted to close certain ofrsaidcontactsya of; means adapted to actuate said a member, and operativeconnections between points inuthe rail whereby closure of the i therail.

5. In combination,aplurality of actuating a plurality of contacts, amovable finger adapted i to close, certain of said: contacts, aselectorbar adapted to move said sition, but that it is still held by the otherfi selector-lever 61, which is upheld by reason nger, said bar lyingwithin thezone of accontacts is controlled by the movementsof tion andadapted to beshiftedby said ]11II1 mined points, operative connectionsbetween the aetuatingmembers and said de-- bers, a rail adapted tobedepressedat deterpressible points in the rail wherebycde-l pressionofthe rail at apoint will allow the said selector bar thereby removmgitlfrom the active zone of the other actuating menu complementary;actuating member to shift levers adaptedto actuate saidbar, a

points, opcrativeconneetions between said J levers and said depressiblepoints whereby depression ofthe railat apoint will allow thecomplementary lever to actuate the bar.

7. In combination with arail, a plurality of cross-ties to which it issecured, resilient supporting meanspositioned between said rail andatie,a shaft, alever extended from one end thereof, a dog secured on theother end ,thereoffand bearingonythe rail in prox- 1 l 8. Incombinat'on,,arailadapted to be dc-v I imity to said supporting means,and electric contacts adaptedto bei actuated by-said' lever 1 1F 1 t e P"S$lO :0 e ra pressed at given points, aboxlpositioned be-v tween saidpointsin proximity to saidrail,

a lurality of contacts in said box, a member shaftextending from eachside of the box ate said closing member, a dog on the outer a aptedtoclose certainiof said contacts, as

to a depressible point, aleverextended from i the inner end of eachshaftadaptcdto actu-;

end of eaehishaft said dogs bearingflon the; 1

rail in proximity to a depressible point opposing movement of thetleversexcept when the railisdepressed. 1, 1

9. In apparatus as characterized, a box, oppositely disposed contactstherein, a movable-contact finger, a pivoted block, a bar secured tosaid block, an arm extended from said bar and engaged with said finger,means inner ends of which said levers are secured,

a rail adapted to be depressed at points spaced each way from the boxand a dog secured on the outer end of each shaft, a toe of the dogbearing on the rail in proximity to the depressible point and opposingmovement of the levers except when the rail is depressed.

10. In apparatus as characterized, a box, oppositely disposed contactstherein, a movable contact finger, a pivoted block, a bar secured tosaid block, an-arm extended from said bar and engaged with said finger,means for normally holding the block and assembly in such position thatthe finger does not make contact, levers adapted to engage respectivelywith opposite ends of the bar to move the finger to or fro, shafts tothe inner ends of which said levers are secured, a rail adapted to bedepressed at points spaced each way from the box'and a dog secured onthe outer end of each shaft, a toe of the dog bearing on the rail inproximity to the depressible point and opposing movement of the leversexcept when the rail is depressed.

.11. In a circuit controller as characterized, a rail adapted to bedepressed at given points by passing trains, a plurality of contacts,a'contact finger, a member adapted to vmove said finger in oppositedirections, means adapted to be brought into engagement with said memberto shift the same in one direction, other means adapted to be broughtinto engagement with said member to shift it in a reverse direction, andmechanical operative connections between said means and said depressiblepoints in the rail whereby movement of the rail permits functioning ofthe means.

12. In combination with a rail, a plurality of cross ties to which it issecured, resilient supporting means positioned between said rail andcertain ties spaced a distance apart whereby the rail may be depressedat said point, a contact finger positioned intermediate said depressiblepoints, shafts journaled in proximity to and substantially parallel withthe rail, a lever on the inner end of each shaft adapted to actuate saidcontact finger, means tending to rotate the respective shafts, and a dogon the outer end of each shaft adapted to bear on the rail 'in proximitytoa depressible point opposing the action of said rotating means wherebythe shaft is turned only when the rail is depressed.

13. In apparatus as characterized, a movable contact member, means formoving said member, a rail, having a dcpressible point in the lengththereof and mechanical connections whereby movement of the contactmember is controlled by the movement of the rail at said point.

14. In apparatus of the character described, a movable contact member,means for moving said member, a rail having depressible points in thelength thereof, and mechanical connections between said means and saidpoints whereby movement of the rail at either of the points will permitfunctioning of the means.

15. In apparatus as characterized, a movable contact member, a railhaving depressible points in its length, means for moving the member ina given direction, means for moving the member in another direction, andmechanical connections between said means and respective depressiblepoints whereby the depression of the rail at either of the points willpermit the said means to function, the construction and arrangementbeing such that an initial depression of the rail at either of thepoints will result in a movement of the contact member, and that asucceeding depression at another point will confirm said movement.

16. In apparatus as characterized, a flexible contact member, and aplurality of means adapted to act upon said member, either of said meansbeing initially actuatable and serving in accordance with the sequenceof their actuation to flex said member or to maintain it in a flexedposition.

17. In apparatus as characterized. a flexible contact member, aplurality of means adapted to flex said member, a rail havingdepressible points in its length, and operative connections between saidmeans and respective depressible points whereby movement of the rail atsaid points will permit functioning of the means, said means servingaccording to the sequenceof their functioning to flex said member or tohold it in a flexed position.

'18. In apparatus as characterized, a movable contact member,selectively operatable means adapted to act sequentially upon saidmember, initially operated means moving the member in a predetermineddirection, and subsequently operated means holding the member in theactuated position.

J. E. CLOUGH. W. H. STILWELL. A. R. FUGINA.

